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DOG TREATS AND DANGERS

TREATS: know that if you choose to buy any pet treats/food made in China your pet may be at risk. Chicken jerky treats, chicken tenders, chicken strips, chicken treats, or sweet potato treats, they can all pose a potential threat. As a precaution, buy only food and treats made in the U.S. Buying pet food made in theUSAwon’t eliminate all risk of ending up with tainted products, but it can improve the chances of keeping your pet safe.

​*Sweet Potato and Yampet treat labeled brands are suspected of causing new cases of unexplained acute kidney failure. According to the Veterinary Information Network(VIN)1, veterinarians are now reporting health problems linked to dogs consuming sweet potato and yam treats, and also showing similar signs of an exceedingly rare type of kidney disorder (Fanconi’s Syndrome aka FLS:A disorder in which the proximal renal tubules of the kidney do not properly reabsorb electrolytes and nutrients back into the body, but instead "spill" them in the urine. If left untreated, a dog with Fanconi syndrome will generally die from the disorder.) as dogs that are fed poultry- there is another, more sinister, association. All the treats, regardless of type, are imported from China. Dogs withFLSusually drink and urinate much more than normal. They can also be lethargic and uninterested in eating. Some dogs may have all of these symptoms, while others show only some of them. The symptoms may be mild or severe.​​Since 2007, theFDAhas become aware of increasing numbers of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. The majority of complaints involve chicken jerky (​treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams.If your pet has the signs listed above and has eaten chicken jerky or sweet potato treats made in China, contact your veterinarian. Save the treats and packaging so that they can be tested by theFDAif they are suspected to cause the illness.

*TheFDArecently released a warning to dog owners telling them to avoid bone treats, after receiving 68 reports, affecting 90 dogs, of pet illness related to bone treats, including 15 deaths, reports Syracuse.com.TheFDAdefines a “bone treat” as “real bones that have been processed, sometimes flavored, and packaged for dogs.” These are unlike butcher bones, which are uncooked and have no added flavor.These potentially dangerous bone treats are available at pet retailers across the country and are usually labeled as “Ham Bones,” ‘Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones,” and often dried through baking and flavored with smoke, preservatives, and seasonings.In the reports theFDAhas received about bone treats, dogs have died or become ill after consuming the treats because the products have caused gastrointestinal obstructions, blocked airways, internal bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea.

DANGEROUS FRUITS/VEGGIES, ETC.

​*Beware of Xylitol- Xylitol is reported to be 100 times more toxic to dogs than chocolate and causes an increase in insulin circulating through the dog's body. This may cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and lead to liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures and liver failure can occur within just a few days.

*Chocolate- Large amounts of chocolate and cocoa products can kill your dog. The toxic component found in chocolate is called Theobromine, which dogs process much slower than humans, and this causes a buildup of toxic levels in their system. Even just a small amount of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can cause symptoms such as staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, abdominal pain, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, and death. Chocolate also contains very toxic substances called methylxanthines, which are stimulants that stop a dog’s metabolic process. If your dog does ingest chocolate, contact a veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline ASAP! The signs of sickness may not be visible for several hours even with death following within 24 hours!

*Cinnamon- While cinnamon is not actually toxic to dogs, it’s probably best to avoid it. Cinnamon and its oils can irritate the inside of dogs’ mouths, making them uncomfortable and sick. It can lower a dog’s blood sugar too much and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, increased, or decreased heart rate, and even liver disease. If they inhale it in powder form, cinnamon can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, and choking.

*Eggs- Raw egg whites can give dogs biotin deficiency, so be sure to consult the advice of a licensed veterinarian before giving them or any food/treats to your pet you may be unsure about, for their health and safety.

*Fruits- Grapes and Raisins,cranberries, Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums are especially dangerous treats for your dog. The problem with these fruits are the seeds and pits. Seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine and cause intestinal obstruction. Also, obstruction or choking is a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. More importantly, peach and plum pits contain cyanide which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is that humans know not to eat them. Dogs, unfortunately, do not. Other toxic human foods to dogs are Onions, yeast dough, artificial sweeteners, avocados, alcohol, and coffee.

*Macadamia Nuts- They are some of the most poisonous foods for dogs. Macadamia nuts, part of the Proteaceae family, can cause vomiting, increased body temperature, inability to walk, and lethargy. Even worse, they can affect the dogs' nervous system.

*Garlic- Like onions, chives, and leeks, garlic is part of the Allium family, and it is five times more toxic to dogs than the rest of the Allium plants. Garlic can create anemia in dogs, causing side effects such as pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Poisoning from garlic and onions may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some, contact your veterinarian.
​*Ice Cream- Dogs do not digest dairy very well, and some dogs have a slight intolerance to lactose, a sugar found in milk products.
​*Table Scraps- Feeding table scraps can cause many health issues for your pet.Feeding dogs scraps of food from the dinner table damages the health of pets as canine digestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans. A dogsdigestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans, meaning certain foods normally classed as healthy could be toxic for a dog.Oily and fatty foods can lead to severe health problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Even worse, there are several people foods that are highly toxic to animals.Onions or any food prepared with them, for instance, can be unsafe for dogs and should never be given. Fat trimmings, cooked or uncooked can be an obvious cause of obesity in dogs. Fat trimmed from meat can cause pancreatitis or the swelling of the pancreas. This can be painful and cause loss of appetite, lethargy, and dehydration. Feeding cooked bones to your dog such as leftover chicken or pork chop bones etc. is extremely risky as cooked bones can become a choking hazard, and could splinter causing punctures and lacerations internally. Some dogs that are constantly fed with table scraps have the tendency to become dependent on them. Dogs that eat tablescraps could start refusing to eat their regular dog food. Aside from that, feeding your pets thescraps can also cause undesirable behaviors such as the sneaking of food off of your plate while your back is turned. Granted, most dogs if given the chance, will do this anyway unless they have been properly trained. However, If they already have a taste for it, this may encourage the behavior along with begging, which both can become very annoying,Click on the highlighted word, "Dogs Health" and on thePET MDlogo below, for more in-depth information on this topic.